Flavanols and Skin Photo Protection: a Clinical Trial (CHOCOPO)

Laval University

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Solar Skin Damage

Treatments: Other: Flavanol-rich chocolate; Other: Flavanol-free chocolate

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01444625

Callebaut-10151 (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

As flavanols have antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and anti-DNA damaging effects and may increase microcirculation in skin, the purpose of the study is to investigate the chronic effect of flavanol-rich chocolate as an effective strategy to protect against the harmful effect of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Full description

Recent data suggested that chronic ingestion of high flavanols cocoa might be a promising agent for dietary photo protection against UV light. Moreover, flavanols-rich cocoa intake has been shown to increase microcirculation in human skin.

Enrollment: 78 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 20 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Non-smoking women between the ages of 20 and 65 years.
• Normal skin of type I and II as decried by Fitzpatrick classification.

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy and breast feeding.
• Photo sensibility: history of skin cancers, photosensitizing medication.
• Sun bed use or sunbathing in the previous 3 months.
• Use of supplements or natural health products (fish oils, coenzyme Q10, garlic, lycopene, beta carotene).
• Allergy or intolerance to nuts or chocolate.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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78 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Dark chocolate

Experimental group

Description:

Flavanol-rich chocolate

Treatment:

Other: Flavanol-rich chocolate

Placebo chocolate

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Flavanol-free chocolate

Treatment:

Other: Flavanol-free chocolate